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Missouri State Alert FAQ

What is Missouri State Alert?

Missouri State Alert is the University's mass notification system, which uses a variety of methods to contact students, faculty and staff in the event of an emergency or school closing. Depending on your subscription preferences, the system will contact you through text messages, emails and/or phone calls.

How does Missouri State Alert work?

During an urgent situation, the Missouri State Alert system will send an alert to each individual phone number and/or email address listed for your account.

If the Missouri State Alert system can determine that successful contact was made (an email or text message was delivered, or a phone call was answered or sent to voicemail), no further attempts to contact that phone number of email address will be made.

If delivery of a message is unsuccessful, the system will continue to attempt to contact that phone number or email address until successful delivery is made.

When will the University use the Missouri State Alert system?

The Missouri State Alert system will only be used in the following situations:

Immediate threat/violent situation on campus

Security alert

University closings, early dismissal, delayed start

Severe weather alerts

Other emergency situations of an extreme nature

Periodic testing of the system

The system will not be used for advertisements, marketing messages or to communicate campus or community events. Please note that notification about University closings will be sent as decisions are made, which may mean they are delivered early in the morning.

What is the best way to update my contact information?

Students

Updating through the Missouri State Alert system will not update your student record. We strongly encourage you to contact the office of the registrar in person or by email from your Missouri State email account to update your contact information. Once your information has been updated with the registrar, it will automatically be updated with Missouri State Alert.

Faculty and staff

Updating through the Missouri State Alert system will not update your University record. We strongly encourage you to contact the office of human resources to update your contact information by completing a contact information form. Once your information has been updated with human resources, it will automatically be updated with Missouri State Alert.

If you selected to use your Missouri State email address, office phone number or local phone number, that information will be automatically updated each weeknight to match what is in your University record.

Updating information not in your University record

If you would like to update additional email addresses or phone numbers not listed in your University record, please do so directly through the Missouri State Alert preferences page.

In my preferences, when I try to add a phone number for a voice call alert it won’t work, why?

When you enter a phone number for a voice call alert, you can not include any parentheses or dashes. Only include numbers. For example, you could input your phone number as 4178365000.

Will my contact information be shared with other University systems or third parties?

Your contact information will only be provided to the vendor supplying the Missouri State Alert system. The vendor will use this information to contact you with urgent notifications. Your contact information will not be shared with other University systems or anyone else.

How do I opt out of Missouri State Alert?

We strongly encourage that you do not opt out of all messages from Missouri State Alert.

To opt out of Missouri State Alert text messages, you may reply “STOP” when you receive an alert. Please note that opting out of text messages does not stop you from receiving alerts by email or phone call.

I'm a member of the West Plains campus. Where do I sign up?

Visit the subscription page and select the option to sign up through My Grizzly Den.

Who sends Missouri State Alert notifications?

Use of the Missouri State Alert system on the Springfield campus may be authorized by the following individuals:

President

Vice President for Administrative and Information Services

Associate Vice President for Administrative Services

Director, Department of Safety and Transportation

Use of the Missouri State Alert system on the West Plains campus may be authorized by the following individuals:

Chancellor

Dean of Student Services

Director of University Communications

Coordinator of Student Life and Development

Acting Dean of the College

Do I have to confirm receipt of the message?

No, you do not have to confirm receipt of the message. Missouri State Alert will determine that receipt of the message was successful if it is delivered.

What numbers and addresses will send the Missouri State Alert notifications?

Phone calls:

417-836-8999 (Springfield Campus)

417-255-8076 (West Plains Campus)

Text messages: 89361

Emails:

Safety@MissouriState.edu (Springfield Campus)

WPUnivComm@MissouriState.edu (West Plains Campus)

If your subscription includes email notification, you should add the above email address to your safe senders list in your email client. This will ensure the alert messages don't end up in your junk email folder.

Will Missouri State test the system? How will I know what is a test?

The University strives to test the Missouri State Alert system each semester. The campus community will be informed before test notifications are sent.

If the message is a test of the system, it will be delivered with the subject line “TEST: Missouri State Alert.” Any message that does not include the word “test” is an urgent message. Urgent messages will carry subject lines such as “Emergency Alert,” “Weather Alert” or “Campus Advisory.”

Is there a charge for subscribing to Missouri State Alert?

The University does not charge a subscriber fee for Missouri State Alert. Subscribers are responsible for paying any fees associated with receiving the messages on their phones or computers.